Initial reactions to Cavs vs. Raptors — and why the 82-game season no longer matters: Wine and Gold Talk podcast

CLEVELAND, Ohio — In this section of nan Wine and Gold Talk podcast, big Ethan Sands, on pinch cleveland.com newsman Chris and cleveland.com columnist Jimmy Watkins, analyse nan Cavs’ regular-season conclusion and their upcoming first-round playoff bid against nan Toronto Raptors.

Takeaways:

Why Do nan Cavaliers Have a Favorable Matchup Against Toronto?

Despite going 0-3 against nan Raptors successful nan regular season, nan podcast confidently predicts a swift bid triumph for nan Cavaliers. The regular-season losses occurred anterior to December, earlier Cleveland acquired James Harden and while nan squad was dealing pinch important injuries. The guys reason that Toronto’s quirky play style and athleticism will not beryllium capable to flooded nan Cavaliers’ high-powered offense. Because nan Raptors are 1 of nan worst 3-point shooting teams successful nan NBA, they deficiency nan mathematical advantage to utilization Cleveland’s protect system. The Cavaliers person a definitive accomplishment advantage and divers scoring avenues, starring nan sheet to powerfully reason that Toronto will struggle to support up conceptually and mightiness only beryllium fortunate to triumph a azygous game.

How Will nan Raptors’ Pace Test nan Cavaliers’ Defense?

A important situation for nan Cavaliers will beryllium handling Toronto’s fast-break modulation discourtesy and limiting live-ball turnovers. Cleveland relies connected a precocious measurement of analytically sound three-point shots; however, misses often lead to agelong rebounds that let opponents to quickly tally nan floor. Toronto is tin of pushing nan gait pinch agelong arms and diversion wings, which straight attacks Cleveland’s astir glaring protect weakness. Furthermore, nan Cavaliers’ reliance connected 2 traditional, slower large men makes it incredibly difficult for them to consistently sprint backmost connected defense. The guys stress that if Cleveland suffers from uncharacteristic shooting slumps aliases lazy turnovers, Toronto easy has nan unit to put nan Cavaliers connected their heels, overmuch for illustration nan Indiana Pacers did successful past year’s playoffs.

What Are nan Key Frontcourt Battles to Watch successful nan Series?

The interior matchups will beryllium crucial, spotlighting nan aggravated rivalry betwixt Evan Mobley and Scottie Barnes. Barnes has historically performed good against Mobley and inherently uses his beingness play style to situation nan Cavaliers’ forward, reigniting conversations from their Rookie of nan Year race. Mobley will beryllium heavy scrutinized to spot if he tin aggressively strengthen Barnes’ physicality. Additionally, an injured Jarrett Allen will look a highly beingness trial against Jakob Poeltl inside. Because Allen is managing tendinitis and relies much connected finesse and footwork, his expertise to withstand Poeltl’s bruising interior beingness is captious to nan team’s success. The Cavaliers desperately request their large men to predominate these highly contested matchups to unafraid a chopped advantage successful nan paint.

How Does James Harden Impact Cleveland’s Postseason Outlook?

The mid-season acquisition of James Harden fundamentally lifted nan Cavaliers’ violative ceiling, transitioning them distant from a axenic defense-first group into an elite scoring team. Harden and Donovan Mitchell easy dictate nan crippled pinch immense violative gravity, giving Cleveland aggregate pathways to success. However, glaring questions stay astir Harden’s protect committedness and his capacity to navigate isolation matchups astatine 36 years old. Although precocious metrics bespeak nan Cavaliers’ defense drops pinch his presence, his sturdy beingness framework strictly prevents him from being overpowered successful nan station by Toronto’s bigger wings, specified arsenic RJ Barrett and Brandon Ingram. Moving deeper into nan playoffs, Harden’s stamina and expertise to consistently break down elite protect schemes will beryllium monitored arsenic nan eventual cardinal to success.

How Is nan Success of nan Cavaliers’ Season Ultimately Measured?

The podcast explicitly notes that enduring regular-season adversity — specified arsenic navigating 41 different starting lineups and overcoming early wounded woes — will beryllium wholly forgotten if Cleveland fails to execute successful nan postseason. The Cavaliers participate nan first information nether immense unit to lavation distant erstwhile playoff failures and validate their construction. Racking up 52 wins is viewed simply arsenic an admiring footnote; nan organization’s occurrence is defined wholly by reaching nan Eastern Conference finals. Ultimately, nan squad must definitively beryllium that their revamped roster tin execute nether pressure.

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Transcript

NOTE: This transcript was generated by artificial intelligence and could incorporate misspellings and errors.

Ethan Sands: What up Cavs Nation? I’m your host, Ethan Sands and I’m backmost pinch different section of nan Wine and Gold Talk podcast. And joining maine today, Chris cleveland.com Cavs hit newsman and Jimmy Watkins, cleveland.com columnist. And we’re coming to you guys aft nan Cavs latest triumph complete nan Washington wizards successful crippled 82 of nan regular season. Guys, we don’t needfully person to spell into nan crippled itself arsenic nan Cleveland Cavaliers matchup didn’t mean thing for nan standings, but Chris, Jimmy, we knew location were 4 scenarios wherever nan Cavs could find a measurement to lucifer up pinch nan Toronto Raptors successful nan first information of nan Eastern Conference playoffs. And lo and behold, it came to fruition. The Boston Celtics hit nan Orlando Magic. And it was an emphatic fashion. Guys, it was highly down nan wire. We heard that nan Cleveland Cavaliers were successful nan locker room watching nan extremity of nan crippled while we were waiting for Kenny Atkinson to travel do his station a property conference. Chris Jimmy, what do you make of nan 82 crippled season? Getting this far, really nan Cavs person developed complete nan season, but besides nan matchup itself against Toronto.

Chris Fedor: What were nan Magic doing? Can anybody show maine what they were doing? It’s crippled 82. They were 1 of nan fewer teams that went into coming pinch thing connected nan line, information to really triumph nan game. Most teams coming were motivated to lose. Orlando was motivated to win. If they won, they avoided nan play successful tournament. And Desmond Bain plays nan first six minutes of nan game. He doesn’t play astatine each successful nan 2nd and 3rd quarters. And past they’re like, hey, we’re down 14 going into nan 4th fourth against Boston connected nan road. Desmond, spell backmost successful nan crippled now. We request you again. What are you doing? Are you kidding me? And what’s Atlanta doing? Is Atlanta ducking nan Cavs? Is this saying that they didn’t want thing to do pinch nan CAVs successful information one? That they would person alternatively had nan New York Knicks? They had thing to play for too. And they sat everybody, everybody. So nan weird scenarios that needed to play retired for nan Cavs to look Toronto alternatively of, it’s astonishing that they did, but they did outcry retired to Luca Garza, who is simply a superhero successful my eyes, he’s sending maine to Toronto alternatively of Atlanta. What a hero. I gotta get his jersey and put it down maine truthful it’s nary longer this achromatic wall, it’s conscionable down me. And it looks for illustration I’m successful jail. I’m gonna person a Luka Garza jersey correct down me. What a shot. A crazy changeable according to each nan Cavs players. What was he doing? Obviously they wanted a 2 for 1 but man, I don’t cognize that that’s what Joe Bazzula drew up successful that, that benignant of situation. But it works. And now nan Cavs are playing against nan Raptors. I, I deliberation nan champion measurement that I tin put it, looking astatine this matchup betwixt nan Cavs and Toronto, I deliberation location are quirks that nan Raptors person quirkiness to nan measurement that they play that tin beryllium bothersome, but I conscionable don’t deliberation nan Cavs are losing 4 times successful 7 tries. So I deliberation Toronto is going to trial nan Cavs surely much than Miami. Last twelvemonth Miami was nan worst playoff force successful NBA history. No squad had ever done that. What they did going from nan backmost extremity of nan play successful tourney into nan playoffs. So that was lopsided going in. It was nan number 1 seed successful nan Eastern Conference aft a historical regular play against nan worst playoff force of each time. So I don’t deliberation it’s that this is simply a 4, 5 matchup, usually a coin flip, usually a prime em. I don’t deliberation it’s that. I deliberation it’s nan Cavs. I deliberation they’re a amended team. I don’t deliberation they’re losing this series. And I deliberation Toronto is going to beryllium fortunate to triumph a game.

Jimmy Watkins: The coaching connected display, I mean I shouldn’t, I don’t cognize what nan organizational motivations are successful Orlando, but for illustration Jamal Mosley’s connected nan basking spot anyways. I don’t cognize if that for illustration large picture, it’s each his fault. They’ve had injuries. They person immoderate weird fitting pieces. I don’t cognize that his, each of his players are bought in. Although that’s portion of a coach’s job. Frankly erstwhile Jamal Mosley comes to Cleveland, seems for illustration a bully guy, rather cool to woody pinch that benignant of stuff. But that’s nan benignant of point that if it’s adjacent and you do thing for illustration that to messiness up your playing seating, you extremity up losing nan game. You shouldn’t. If you, if that’s nan quality betwixt you being a 17 and AC, though ironically you’d alternatively beryllium nan 8 seed I deliberation successful this situation. But for illustration if that’s nan quality betwixt you making nan playoffs aliases not, that does not bode good for your early future. As it pertains to nan Toronto Raptors, I deliberation it’s beautiful simple. I deliberation if nan Cavs sprout decent from 3 this tin beryllium a existent speedy series. The mathematics is going to plaything successful their favor. The Raptors are not a bully 3 constituent shooting team. They’re not a very consenting 3 constituent shooting team. They effort to dress up for that deficiency of mathematics by playing fast, turning teams over. It’s benignant of nan only measurement they tin make passable discourtesy because they’re, arsenic we antecedently mentioned, they don’t sprout nan shot very well, which makes it really difficult for them to make successful nan half court. They don’t really person an organizer. So I deliberation nan only measurement that nan Raptors tin bent astir successful this bid is if nan Cavs person a mates uncharacteristic nights from 3 constituent scope and nan Raptors tin move those into a bunch of modulation buckets. And they were. And nan Cavs tin get caught up successful that style of play. But nan Cavs person a look to make nan Raptors play this slower, much methodical marque of playoff basketball, which is people a bunch of points. And nan Cavs person been scoring a bunch of points. One point that they’ve been reliably doing complete nan past 2 months is scoring a bunch of points. And if they make Toronto return nan shot retired of nan basket, I don’t deliberation that Toronto’s discourtesy is going to look very good. So I’m, I’m pinch Chris. I deliberation this could beryllium a quickie.

Chris Fedor: I conscionable deliberation nan Raptors don’t do capable of nan things that you request to do against nan Cavs to fuss them. They do immoderate of nan things. They’ve sewage length, they’ve sewage athleticism, they’re pesky connected defense. Scotty Barnes is going to beryllium first squad each defense. The shortest dude that they play connected their roster is Jamal Shed, who’s 6 ft 1, Emmanuel Clickley, 6 ft 2. But speech from that, they do person a batch of pesky, long, diversion guys and they’re multi positional, multi dimensional. They tin move if they person to. Scotty Barnes astatine times has fixed Evan Mobley problems. So location are things that they do. You can’t conscionable discount those. But not capable of nan things that fuss nan Cavs. You gotta rebound offensively, defensively against nan Cavs, nan Raptors are for illustration mediate of nan battalion successful rebounding. You gotta beryllium capable to make threes consistently against nan Cavs, particularly connected nan protect extremity of nan floor, because those are nan shots that are going to beryllium available. Those are nan shots that nan Cavs are consenting to concede based connected really they conception their protect crippled plan. The Raptors are 1 of nan worst 3 constituent shooting teams successful nan NBA, they’re bottommost 10 successful makes, attempts and percentage. So could Emanuel quickly get hot? Sure, it could happen. Could Jacoby Walter travel disconnected nan chair maybe. Possibly. And deed a few? RJ Barrett tin arsenic well. Scotty Barnes can, but it’s not a prolific 3 constituent shooting squad for illustration nan Atlanta Hawks. And past if you talk astir offensively, this type of nan Cavs that they person pinch James Harden moving nan show, nan James Harden, Jared Allen prime and roll, nan measurement that Evan Mobley has been unleashed and benignant of his domiciled being solidified, each these different things, you’re astir apt going to person to people for illustration 1:15, 1:20. A batch of nights against nan Cavs and nan Raptors struggle to do that consistently. They’re mediate of nan battalion offensively. So erstwhile you look astatine nan floor plan of teams that could perchance beryllium a problem for nan Cavs and nan traits that those teams possess, nan Raptors conscionable don’t do capable of those things to utilization their weaknesses. So I, I do deliberation that Atlanta astir apt would person been a tougher matchup from a, a stylistic perspective. I deliberation Atlanta would person been a tougher matchup for nan Cavs arsenic opposed to Toronto.

Ethan Sands: Two things connected this topic, because I deliberation location are going to beryllium fans that are going to look astatine nan Cavs caput to caput against Toronto and beryllium like, what are you guys talking about? They’re 0 and 3 versus Toronto this

Chris Fedor: play by mixed 35 points. They’ve lost.

Ethan Sands: Correct. And location are numbers down each of these things. Right. First and foremost, nan Cavs played each 3 of these games against nan Toronto Raptors earlier nan period of December. The Cavs were not afloat healthy. You ne'er really knew who nan Cavs were going to beryllium this play astatine this constituent successful nan season. Right. Second portion of this also, Darius Garland is nary longer connected nan State. Cavs are a wholly different squad since nan All Star break and they person not had nan opportunity to, to lucifer up pinch Toronto. James Harden, arsenic Chris and Jimmy mentioned, is going to play a immense factor. Keone Ellis, defensively, he’s not big, but nan Toronto Raptors don’t needfully person a immense assemblage of work. Sure, Scotty Barnes is heftier, he’s stronger. But Brandon Ingram, RJ Barrett, those are skinnier guys. Keone Ellis, I think, is going to beryllium capable to clasp up amended against those guys than he would person against a feline for illustration C.J. mcCollum aliases Jalen Johnson aliases whoever. Right. That’s nan first portion of that. The 2nd portion of this is guys, we had this speech astir nan Atlanta Hawks, really nan Cavs were going to person an advantageous matchup inside. That was going to beryllium location wherever they had a chopped advantage. I deliberation nan Cavs still person a accomplishment advantage against nan Serrano Raptors wrong against Purdle and Mamu, but those are 2 existent centers. Right. Purdle, 7 ft tall, Mahmu tin vessel guys retired to nan perimeter, make nan Cavs play otherwise defensively. Right. It’ll make nan Cavs make judge that they are locked successful defensively connected that extremity of nan floor. It’s not going to beryllium arsenic large of an advantage, but I deliberation that puts a bigger microscope connected Evan Mobley. Although we’ve had this conversation, who needs to measurement up nan most? It’s going to beryllium Evan Mobley. I deliberation this is going to make that constituent singing location moreover much because of how, really Jared Allen’s knee could be, really he could respond. Evan Mobley, really are you going to clasp up against nan physicality Scotty Barnes, again, that communicative that is going to rear its head, evidently nan Rookie of nan Year conversation, are you going to beryllium that you are amended than Scotty successful a playoff situation erstwhile you guys are going caput to head? And I deliberation that’s wherever a batch of fans are going to beryllium tuning in. And particularly if Jared Allen is not astatine 100%, which we do not expect him to be, who is going to measurement up? And evidently nan different information of this, arsenic Kenny Atkinson was saying it pregame, nan only subordinate that nan Cavs are unsure of being patient heading into nan postseason astatine this constituent Sunday against nan Washington Wizards is Thomas Bryant pinch his calf strain. So I’m willing to get your guys position connected that interior battle, particularly against this type of nan Toronto Raptors.

Chris Fedor: Well, that’s nan different point astir nan Cavs 0 and 3 grounds against nan Raptors. Jared Allen played 1 of nan 3 games. That’s a large difference. Again, I deliberation location are definite kinds of players that are bothersome to Evan Mobley and bothersome to Jared Allen. I, I do deliberation Scotty Barnes tin create problems for this team. I do. Especially connected nan protect extremity of nan floor. I do deliberation that he tin clasp up physically against Devin Mobley. And arsenic overmuch arsenic nan Cavs talk astir Evan Mobley should person won Rookie of nan Year. Evan Mobley, Scotty Barnes, this, each that Scotty Barnes likes these matchups against Devin Mobley. Scotty Barnes takes these things personally too. And he has had his adjacent stock of occurrence against nan Cavs. And against Evan Mobley, Jakob Poeltl is simply a spot of a chaotic paper because he’s been dealing pinch a backmost wounded fundamentally each play long, but he tin theoretically assemblage and retired beingness and retired reliable Jared Allen. Now, he’s not Joel Embiid retired there, obviously, but I do deliberation his style, arsenic pesky arsenic he is, arsenic beingness arsenic he likes to play, nan bulk that he has, he’s conscionable a different benignant of subordinate than Jarrett. Jarrett’s much finesse, Jarrett’s much accomplishment based. There are advantages that Jarrett is going to person successful definite matchups, truthful he needs to return advantage of those things. He needs to usage his quickness. He use. He needs to usage his footwork, he needs to usage his skill, accomplishment and each that benignant of stuff. But I do deliberation that Jakob Pearl is personification who physically, not that he tin predominate this series, is not Mitchell Robinson retired there, but I do deliberation physically he holds up surely amended than Onyeka Kongwu would person successful a imaginable matchup against nan Atlanta Hawks. So I. I’m not judge that it’s arsenic overmuch of an advantage aliases arsenic lopsided arsenic it felt for illustration it was going to beryllium pinch nan Cavs beforehand tribunal against Atlanta erstwhile it comes to nan Cavs beforehand tribunal against Toronto. So to me, I deliberation this bid is much Donovan Mitchell, James Harden. The erstwhile matchup, if it would person been Atlanta, to maine it would person been much Evan Mobley, Jared Allen. And that, I deliberation is 1 of nan the things that separates nan Cavs is that it depends connected who they play. It depends connected nan matchup, it depends connected nan situation. But they person aggregate pathways to violative success. And if nan matchup is going to beryllium much favorable for Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, past that’s nan measurement that nan Cavs are going to effort and spell astir it. If nan matchup’s much favorable for Jared Allen, Evan Mobley, past that’s nan measurement that nan Cavs are going to spell astir it. There’s conscionable a small spot much diverseness wrong this offense. There’s a small spot much unpredictability wrong this offense, and I deliberation that’s 1 of nan things that tin make them really, really difficult successful a playoff environment. Do you nonstop 2 astatine James Harden? Do you nonstop 2 astatine Donovan Mitchell? Both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell typically request that benignant of level of attraction from nan defense, but it’s difficult to do that erstwhile they’re surrounded by each of nan different worldly that they’re surrounded by. So I do deliberation it’s going to beryllium fascinating to See really Toronto is going to spell astir it. What are they going to do against James? What are they going to do against Donovan? Are they going to usage Scotty Barnes against Evan Mobley? Are they going to beryllium capable to move Scotty Barnes onto immoderate of nan Cavs guards? All of those things benignant of person to play themselves out. But it feels for illustration to me, upon first glance, it’s much of a Donovan James bid than it is an Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, Sears, which is all

Jimmy Watkins: nan much logic to consciousness amended astir nan matchup. Who do you spot much correct now, fixed their playoff way records? It’s not close. It’s not close. Even given, you know, James Harden’s spotty moments, you know, successful large games for illustration him and him and Donovan person conscionable accomplished measurement much and produced astatine measurement higher levels successful a playoff bid than Jared Allen, Nevin Moble. Not to mention nan truth besides that Jared Allen’s not 100% correct now. And if he’s 1 of your biggest advantages successful a series, well, really agelong is that advantage going to maintain? Right. Like complete nan people of if you’re playing nan Hawks successful that bid goes what, you know, six games aliases whatever, you’re astir apt getting a different Jared Allen Game 5 and six than you are from crippled one. Although it helps. A cardinal constituent for Jarrett is that nan first information series, they person much days disconnected betwixt games. So I deliberation that’ll thief him get done this series. Depending connected really agelong this tendonitis lasts, assuming nan Cavs get past information one, that could go a bigger rumor successful early bid because it’s going to beryllium each different day. So that’s different point to watch. But nan 1 different unit constituent that I would opportunity that nan Raptors mightiness beryllium capable to flick is nan Cavs helping defense, aliases deficiency thereof, emotion arsenic bully astir Dean Wade’s wellness and hit correct now arsenic I person probably. Since nan Cavs person been a playoff squad pinch Dean Wade, that’s not saying overmuch because we’ve ne'er really felt bully astir it and he’s still conscionable coming backmost from injury, but it’s still better. It’s still amended than what we’ve had. But guys for illustration Brandon Ingram constricted playoff way record, but has been awesome successful a playoff bid before. Back successful 2022, his Pelicans pushed nan 64 triumph Suns to six games and Brandon Ingram was scoring 27 a crippled successful that series. He looked for illustration a morganatic playoff violative option. So thing to support an oculus connected nan apical 3 scores for nan Raptors. RJ Barrett, Brandon Ingram and Scotty Barnes are each that benignant of size. They’re not each your emblematic propulsion them nan shot and fto them activity retired benignant of player. Which goes backmost to the, you know, nan deficiency of versatility that nan Raptors person successful their offense. For example, Evan Mobley tin defender Scotty Barnes conscionable for illustration Scotty Barnes tin defender Evan Mobley, right. Particularly successful nan half court. But they person those kinds of guys for illustration if, okay, Evan Mobley’s connected Scotty Barnes and Dean waves connected Brandon Ingram. Well, who’s guarding RJ Barrett? I don’t cognize nan reply to that question. RJ Barrett besides benignant of an up and down playoff guy. But for illustration still, nan Raptors person nan outlines of immoderate guys where, okay, you person to inquire immoderate questions. The Cavs person to reply nan doorbell against immoderate of those guys.

Ethan Sands: I agree. And nan style of nan play, we talked astir nan pace, right. And evidently Kenny Atkinson referenced it for illustration really benignant of sewage utilized to dealing pinch that because of nan Indiana Pacers bid past year. You understood, you had a thought process of what that could look for illustration and now they’ve had existent acquisition going up. A squad that likes to get up and down nan floor. We were besides having this speech astir nan Atlanta Hawks, right. A squad that likes to play successful modulation likes to moreover aft makes get retired and effort and make mismatches aliases transverse mismatches happen. So I deliberation it’ll beryllium absorbing to spot really nan Cavs incorporate Scotty Barnes and Jimmy, to your point, who they determine to put Dean Wade on, right. Because of really overmuch he is going to beryllium dealing pinch conscionable getting backmost from an ankle injury. Hopefully he’s rested and healthy, arsenic patient arsenic you tin beryllium aft dealing pinch that, but besides knowing nan magnitude of accent going to beryllium put connected their bodies. And I deliberation that comes to ray erstwhile we look astatine nan way grounds erstwhile it comes to nan gait of play for Toronto, erstwhile we talk astir nan gait of play, for conscionable really their discourtesy runs. And there’s besides worth to knowing that they’re going to person schematics baked into their scheme based connected who they’re playing. And I deliberation that’ll perchance alteration really they look astatine what nan Cavs person been capable to do. Obviously, earlier into nan play we mentioned nan caveats to this already, but Kenny Atkinson reiterated really they dominated them pinch their speed. They were 1 of those teams, Chicago, Atlanta, early into nan play wherever they noticed really they still weren’t capable to support up pinch those teams successful pace, successful transition, particularly connected nan protect extremity of nan floor.

Chris Fedor: Yeah, it’s One of nan things astir Toronto that they’re going to effort and thin into, it’s 1 of nan things that makes them unsocial and different. Basically everybody that gets a rebound for them tin push it up and commencement that transition. And nan Cavs person had problems pinch modulation defense each play long. And it’s going to beryllium a constituent of emphasis. And that’s fine, you tin make it a constituent of emphasis. But what happened past twelvemonth against Indiana, they knew. They knew going into that series, hey, Indiana wants to play fast, Indiana is fast. But you play against it and you’re like, beatified bleep, that’s measurement faster than I felt it was going to be. Like, ohio my God, for illustration that’s alarming. So it’s 1 point to opportunity we cognize what to expect, we cognize what we person to do to combat that. The Cavs could ne'er lucifer that against Indiana. Indiana wore them down. Over nan people of that series, complete nan people of games, they wore nan Cavs down. It was a relentless gait that had nan Cavs connected their heels. And I do deliberation Toronto, conscionable nan measurement that they’re built and their style of play being truthful funky, I do deliberation they person nan benignant of expertise to put a squad connected their heels. It’s conscionable really do nan Cavalists respond to that is going to beryllium up to them to respond a amended measurement than they did against Indiana because rather frankly, they ne'er responded against nan Pacers past year.

Jimmy Watkins: And again, nan Raptors are built successful a measurement that threatens nan Cavs little wide than nan Pacers did. The Racers, yes, were an unthinkable modulation squad and I deliberation Chout for illustration benignant of benignant of spawned nan Raptors and Atlanta Hawks styles of nan world that we person now. Like we were talking astir this successful nan media room earlier, for illustration everyone’s trying to put a small Pacers successful their life, successful their, successful their system, successful their accuracy coming into this twelvemonth because they saw each nan occurrence that nan Pacers have. Number one, there’s one. There’s one. Tyrese Halliburton. He is nan champion generator of gait successful nan NBA and he’s difficult to replicate. Number two, nan Pacers surrounded him pinch dogged 2 measurement players who could shoot, which is simply a cardinal differentiator betwixt nan Pacers and nan Raptors. That being said, nan Cavs style of play successful roster building still does lend itself to being challenged successful this circumstantial way. The Cavs sprout a batch of threes. That’s a good, analytically sound approach. It’s what, it’s what awesome offenses aspire to do. They make bully looks, they person bully shooters, they should make a decent magnitude of them. But if they don’t miss threes create agelong rebounds which are premier for fueling accelerated breaks. The Cavs person 2 of nan champion rim protectors successful nan NBA, which is nan the glue to their defense. It’s what they’ve built nan full point around. They request Evan Mobley and Jared Allen successful this bid and to to get wherever they’re going successful nan playoffs. But erstwhile you play 2 bigs astatine nan aforesaid time, people those guys are going to move a small spot slower than immoderate of nan different guys connected nan court. Jared Allen, Obi Toppin was retired moving them astatine times successful that bid past year. It’s, it happens. It happens. That’s conscionable for illustration science. Basically. Big guys don’t tally arsenic fast. I’m not breaking news here. I mean I would opportunity that for each awesome point that James Harden does, he’s sewage a Hall of Fame resume a mile long. Which you will not find connected that resume is he’s nan first 1 backmost connected defense. There are times wherever James Harden drives to nan handbasket and misses a layup, hits nan ground. He’s conscionable retired of nan play. He’s conscionable retired of nan play. I was looking connected cleaning nan solid nan different day, really Donovan Mitchell is the, is nan Cavs either their worst aliases their 2nd worst connected disconnected modulation defense feline connected nan team. He is for illustration 5th percentile. They are for illustration the, nan ratio drops to a ridiculous grade erstwhile he’s connected the. Now again, this is regular season. These peculiarly nan prima players person a small spot little information to weapon it backmost connected defense each nan clip erstwhile they’re expending each nan power they are connected offense. Part of nan logic nan crippled slows down successful nan playoffs, portion of nan logic that’s for illustration communal knowledge is that for illustration those, those small, debased hanging consequence things get cleaned up. More guys tally backmost harder, they’re much engaged. There are less sloppy regular play turnovers. That’s nan situation of trying to make this style hap successful nan playoffs. And nan Raptors person agelong arms and tin unit you into immoderate reliable decisions. All that stuff. That worldly is existent too. And for illustration I said, nan Cavs style and roster building lends themselves to if they person disconnected shooting nights and they’re giving nan Raptors trans aliases if they’re having a turnover dense nighttime and they’re giving nan Raptors modulation opportunities, it tin beryllium difficult for them. I conscionable deliberation nan Cavs discourtesy is truthful bully that they tin limit those opportunities by simply Scoring.

Ethan Sands: Jimmy, I deliberation you’re perfectly right. Those are 2 areas that I deliberation we person to evidently support an oculus on. The unrecorded shot rebounds and unrecorded shot turnovers. Because arsenic we’ve heard from Kenny Yon, I deliberation 1 of my favourite phrases that he’s utilized each year, unrecorded shot turnovers, are decease because of conscionable really straightforward that is. If nan Cavs are a bad modulation squad and you’re turning nan shot complete and nan guidance has 3 quarters of nan tribunal to activity with, there’s improbable that nan Cavs defense is going to beryllium capable to respond. But I do want to move distant from nan expectations for this bid and get your guys wide position of nan 82 crippled play for nan Cleveland Cavaliers arsenic nan regular play comes to a close. We understand that this squad went done a batch of adversity, had a batch of injuries. Kenny Atkinson had to woody pinch 41 starting lineups this year. I judge it was what did you guys study astir this squad and what do you guys dream to spot much of, particularly successful nan postseason pinch everything that they’ve endured but each that they still person yet to beryllium that comes successful this adjacent agelong of games.

Chris Fedor: That’s nan thing, guys. My first consequence is I didn’t study thing astir nan squad Cavs because this wasn’t nan proving crushed for them. Who cares now that it’s over, now that nan 82 games person been played, who cares? It was ne'er astir nan regular play for this team. Obviously we had to talk astir it, we had to knock astatine times, we had to break things down, we had to look astatine lineups, what works, what doesn’t work, each that benignant of stuff. But for them, it’s ever been astir nan postseason. They, they person a batch to beryllium erstwhile it comes to nan station season. So 52 wins. Great. Kenny was proud. Kenny talked astir nan extent that this squad constructed, that that allowed them to withstand truthful overmuch roster upheaval, truthful galore injuries, nan 41 different starting lineups, that they utilized a different starting lineup for half nan games. That’s outrageous to deliberation about. So, yes, they merit in installments for, for each of that. But occurrence for this team, for this organization, tin only beryllium defined 1 way. So I do deliberation successful immoderate ways it’s bully that they dealt pinch a batch of adversity and they had to flooded definite things and they had to study things astir themselves and they had to get successful uncomfortable positions and benignant of propulsion themselves retired of it. But I besides think, like, you person to propulsion successful nan adaptable astir would they person pulled themselves retired of it organically aliases did they propulsion themselves retired of it because nan roster change? And to maine I deliberation it was much a roster alteration type point alternatively than conscionable for illustration this difficult nosed, reliable minded mentality aliases thing on those lines. Who knows, Maybe they would person pulled themselves retired of it organically, but everybody wrong this statement has said nan aforesaid thing. We weren’t going anywhere. We weren’t bully enough. We didn’t believe. Now they believe. Now they deliberation they’re bully enough. But that’s much astir nan roster change

Jimmy Watkins: that they made astatine nan mid season

Chris Fedor: waste and acquisition deadline arsenic opposed to like, oh, we learned each this worldly astir ourselves by starting 17 and 16 and dealing pinch injuries and adversity, each that benignant of stuff. So again, you don’t want to wholly say, hey, for illustration it doesn’t matter what they went done successful nan regular season. But while nan 52 games, that’s nice, they tin observe those kinds of things. Other definite things that hap passim nan people of nan regular play they tin constituent to and they tin opportunity they’re amended because of that and they tin quote unquote, observe those things too. But for them, if they don’t get to nan Eastern Conference finals, nobody’s going to retrieve immoderate of that crap. That’s each it’s astir for them. Those are nan stakes. Those are nan expectations. That’s nan unit that they’re under. There is nary squad successful nan NBA that’s going into nan playoffs that is nether much unit than this group. That’s a batch to transportation into a playoff run. I deliberation really they grip that will beryllium beautiful telling. How do they grip it if they get down successful a bid and they’re really playing against a squad that’s connected their aforesaid level aliases adjacent to their level or, aliases possibly tin of beating them? That didn’t spell very good past year. Didn’t spell very good nan twelvemonth earlier that didn’t spell very good nan twelvemonth earlier that either. So 52 wins. They tin beryllium proud of that for sure. They tin observe that. They tin talk astir each nan things that they had to flooded to do that doesn’t matter. Absolutely does not matter.

Jimmy Watkins: Yeah, I would conscionable opportunity that of each nan things I don’t attraction astir about this regular season, nan point I astir don’t attraction astir is nan Cavs telling america that nan regular play hardships shaped them into a tougher, much playoff fresh to for illustration really galore times, really galore times person we heard that astatine this constituent fans person sewage to beryllium sick of whoever it is? Donovan, Evan Mobley said, oh, this is bully for us. This will. This will thief america down nan it hasn’t yet. It hasn’t yet. And until it does, they don’t. No 1 believes you. And moreover erstwhile it does, for illustration we’ve person capable grounds to, like, you conscionable request to beryllium better. It’s not astir needing to spell done much struggles successful nan regular play aliases immoderate of that delirium that you’re spewing correct now. You opportunity those things because you person to opportunity them successful nan infinitesimal because different what’s really happening here, you’re conscionable failing successful nan regular season, which again, that besides doesn’t really matter. You tin do plentifulness of that and still triumph a championship. It’s fine. But nan communicative that for illustration nan 17 and 16 struggle, that’s that really forged america into nan mentally reliable squad that we are. We’ll spot really mentally reliable you are, what you’ve been forged into. But to me, this regular play was a batch of wide confirming things that I benignant of already thought correct I person benignant of already thought that nan Cavs are a really deep, talented team, and I learned that they’re moreover deeper than I thought they were. We recovered look astatine Jalen Tyson. Jaylon Tyson was awesome for nan for nan agelong erstwhile nan Cavs were missing Darius Garland and they desperately request and Evan Mobley was benignant of successful a funk and they desperately needed personification other to adhd immoderate surplus scoring to their offense. He was great. Craig Porter Jr. Had moments early successful this naquantom for illustration they support unearthing. The activity by nan beforehand agency is really awesome and it helped support them afloat during a clip erstwhile possibly different teams would benignant of conscionable spiral. That being said, 1 of nan things that I agelong suspected was I’m not judge nan Core 4 useful arsenic a group astatine nan highest level. The Cavs came to nan aforesaid conclusion midstream mid play 4 for a group of extenuating circumstances. The Darius Garland wounded worldly astatine aliases adjacent nan apical of nan database for reasons why they pulled that waste and acquisition off. But they came to that aforesaid conclusion eventually. It conscionable took them a small spot longer than immoderate of nan remainder of america person been. And for judge I’m each astir patience. I’m each astir giving, giving group 2nd chances. And you know, location are tons of examples of different cores that went done immoderate struggles successful nan playoffs and bounced back. But for illustration it was nan aforesaid point complete and complete and complete again, for illustration thing had to happen. Okay. And past nan past point and this is 1 of nan biggest questions that we still person that I’ve agelong suspected that nan Cavs benignant of confirmed. Is that really chipping distant astatine this defense first identity, some successful philosophy, some successful roster construction, for illustration all, each of nan above. What’s near of nan original defense first accuracy is that, hey, we’ve sewage 2 really bully rim protectors and those are borderline cheat codes for apical 10 defense level play successful nan NBA. We’re really testing that theory. How good nan cheat codification useful pinch immoderate of nan size deficits that nan Cavs person connected nan perimeter. With James Harden and Donovan Mitchell going to beryllium being connected nan tribunal and being arsenic taxed offensively arsenic they’re going to be, those are going to beryllium guys that teams spell aft successful nan playoffs and you’re going to request Evan Mobley and Jared Allen there. Like nan personnel. That’s nan mobility I person going forward. This. We’ve had each these conversations astir overhelping. That’s a problem. Overhelping stems from a deficiency of trust. And it’s not conscionable for illustration a miscommunication thing. It’s conscionable for illustration I don’t spot that dude to extremity nan dude that he’s guarding from getting to nan rim. Pick a sanction retired of a hat. When Donovan Mitchell sees Max Struse connected nan perimeter against an accomplished violative player, nan siren bells are already going disconnected earlier personification makes a move that, oh, I mightiness request to thief here. And past erstwhile personification gets a measurement aliases a half a measurement connected a Maxers and this tin beryllium James Harden, this tin beryllium Sam Rose, could beryllium immoderate 1 of nan Cavs perimeter defenders who, for illustration successful Max and Sam’s case, do a batch of squad defense things. Right? They’re conscionable not nan apical notch athletes that tin enactment pinch immoderate of nan players that they request to defender successful their positions. Right. So there’s nary shame successful that. It’s conscionable nan Cavs spot that, whether it’s Donovan, Evan Mobley, Jared Allen, whoever’s playing down them, sees that nan alarm’s already going disconnected their head. And past erstwhile nan thrust starts and they really get a measurement now nan alarm’s sounding and they’re. And they’re moving early. Right. So nan defense is still nan biggest question. I consciousness for illustration nan different 2 things that became concerns astatine this point, astatine immoderate constituent during nan play person benignant of been solved. The extent of talent for illustration nan Cavs are arsenic patient arsenic they’ve been each season. Kenny said earlier coming for illustration he hoped this twelvemonth is simply a reverse of past twelvemonth wherever past twelvemonth they were healthy, they had a awesome regular season. It each fell isolated complete some, you know, fluky Postseason injuries, possibly this twelvemonth because they sewage done it all, nan wounded gods will plaything their luck and they’ll beryllium patient for nan playoff run. We could spot what we really person here, right? Core 4 business has been changed. We’ll spot astir resolved and James Harden’s a much playoff fresh subordinate than Darius Garlands. We’ll see. The defense I don’t see. I conjecture you could reason Keon Ellis is portion of nan solution to that problem that they tried to make midseason. I. I don’t spot what nan set assistance is for that isolated from beryllium better.

Chris Fedor: Yeah, nan James Harden connected defense point I deliberation is fascinating, guys, because during nan regular play you tin benignant of say, well, he’s toward nan extremity of his career, he’s pacing himself. He knows not to spell each retired successful nan regular season. He’s not arsenic willing successful playing defense. So I deliberation we’re going to get an thought of was it each that benignant of worldly aliases has he mislaid a step? Is he exploitable successful definite kinds of areas? Because location was truthful overmuch information pinch Darius Garland of really he could get exploited. The blueprint was there. The scouting study was obvious. The Miami Heat, successful nan first information of a lopsided bid were saying that their accommodation was onslaught that guy, conscionable spell astatine him complete and complete and complete again, get him into switches, return him successful nan station and conscionable obliterate him. And that was a pathway to violative success. Not capable for Miami because they conscionable weren’t bully enough. But that was nan clear weakness of Darius. It wasn’t an liking thing, it wasn’t an effort thing. There were beingness limitations that could beryllium exploited. When it comes to James, location are immoderate limitations that he has, his feet being 1 of them. You tin return him disconnected nan dribble, you tin hit him disconnected nan dribble. So location is that. But past you person to inquire yourself if he’s engaged, if he’s focused, if he’s committed, if he’s conscionable much into playing defense than nan regular season, what does that do? How overmuch amended does that make him? Because statistically they are a amended protect squad pinch him disconnected nan floor. The numbers opportunity that now it’s not arsenic drastic arsenic it was pinch Darius Garland. It’s not arsenic drastic arsenic it was pinch DeAndre Hunter. But amended is better, and you don’t want to get successful a business wherever he’s giving up truthful overmuch astatine nan protect extremity of nan level that nan Cavs person to activity truthful difficult offensively to dress up for that. I don’t deliberation he’s that benignant of liability. But I deliberation it’s a hold and spot type point to spot if he tin find it to a different level, return it to a different level erstwhile nan playoffs rotation around. I deliberation offensively we cognize what to expect from James, but astatine this shape of his career, what level tin he get to? Defensively? I deliberation that’s a morganatic question. Now nan bully point is from a Cavs perspective, he’s beefy, he’s burly, he’s sturdy. You can’t conscionable get him successful switches and utilization him and conscionable obliterate him successful nan post. You cognize Brandon Ingram’s not going to beryllium capable to do that against James Harden. RJ Barrett’s not going to beryllium capable to do that against James Harden. So that helps. That helps nan defense not beryllium arsenic compromised. That helps Kenny opportunity to himself, hey, I’m consenting to move more. I’m consenting to move 1 done 5 because I don’t person this undersized, frail, physically constricted guy. But if Toronto’s whipping nan shot astir and they’re taking him disconnected nan dribble complete and complete and complete again, that’s different measurement that nan Cavs defense tin beryllium compromised. So I do deliberation that’s an absorbing adaptable and I do person had a level of liking successful seeing conscionable for illustration what type defensively James Harden tin really get to astatine this shape of this career.

Jimmy Watkins: Can I conscionable opportunity 1 speedy point astir Harden again, arsenic Chris was talking astir wherever he’s really astatine at property 36, erstwhile you talk astir defense, I person questions, not really astir this series, but for illustration we’ll get 2nd information connected down. One of Harden’s superpowers has ever been, peculiarly successful nan playoffs, sidesplitting isos, making thing retired of nothing. Where are we astatine pinch that astatine property 36? Isolation plays, it’s tin beryllium precocious variance successful general, peculiarly complete precocious complete over mini samples which nan playoffs are. But tin he still summon that benignant of magic nan measurement he utilized to against nan champion of nan champion defenses? Because for each everything we want to say, and I’ve been starring nan complaint astir really this is nan champion way for nan Cavs to play nan Pistons successful information two, that’s a legit defense that’s going to propulsion immoderate existent dudes astatine you and you’re going to person to conscionable hit nan dude successful beforehand of you sometimes. And if you get past them and you spot Boston, good that’s moreover different level. It’s a nan squad that bases its defenses astir making you astir connected bogging you down and making you triumph those matchups. So is He astatine property 36, is he fresh for that stuff? We don’t person to reply those questions today. We’ll get some, we’ll get immoderate sneak peeks, we’ll get immoderate snippets because Toronto has immoderate large bodies that, that they tin propulsion astatine him, but not astir to nan level that that’s coming later. So that’s, that’s different point to support an oculus connected is really Harden does successful those situations, those switches.

Chris Fedor: Yeah, I deliberation that’s a bully point, Jimmy. There are evidently levels to this. Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Detroit. But Toronto’s a apical 5 defense now. Statistically, they are a apical 5 defense and they do person immoderate dudes and they do person immoderate lengths, immoderate athleticism they tin switch. I deliberation nan point is when, erstwhile you spell ISO arsenic overmuch arsenic what nan Cavs have, conscionable by bringing James Harden successful and changing that benignant of violative dynamic, it tin beryllium exhausting connected a player. You activity harder for your discourtesy erstwhile you’re doing that benignant of worldly and having to activity that difficult passim nan people of an full playoff run, first against 1 apical 5 defense, past possibly adjacent against different apical 5 defense, and past possibly again against different apical 10 defense, that tin deterioration you down physically and mentally. It tin beryllium exhausting to person to activity that difficult for offense. He tin do it. He has shown to beryllium tin of it. But you’re right, this is simply a different James. This is later successful his career. I deliberation location person been times toward nan extremity of this regular play erstwhile he’s tried to summon those kinds of things and he’s had nan shot deflected aliases he hasn’t been capable to decorativeness astatine nan rim aliases he hasn’t been capable to get each nan measurement to nan rim and people done contact. He hasn’t been getting nan whistle that he grew accustomed to early successful his career. So location are immoderate James Harden related variables present erstwhile it comes to nan Cavs, and I agree. I don’t deliberation this is thing that you’re going to look astatine specifically successful nan first information against Toronto. It’s much arsenic nan playoffs proceed to advancement and really he navigates each of that and really he holds up physically and mentally erstwhile there’s going to beryllium a batch connected him offensively, it’s not each connected him for illustration it has been astatine various points successful his career. There’s personification other that he’s sharing nan violative load with. There’s a measurement to make much discourtesy pinch Evan Mobley, pinch Jared Allen, pinch immoderate screening worldly betwixt Max Struse successful nan bigs, Sam Merrill and nan bigs and worldly for illustration that. So it’s not nan aforesaid load that he’s had successful past playoff runs. But he is James Harden and he’s present for a reason. And a batch of nan discourtesy is still going to autumn connected him. And really does he grip it passim an full playoff run? One series, that’s nothing. Two series, possibly it’s starting to deterioration connected him a small bit. But an full playoff run, doing that benignant of worldly and having to create that overmuch discourtesy and having to activity that hard, that tin surely return its toll.

Ethan Sands: I will opportunity this, guys. As overmuch arsenic adversity tin beryllium utilized connected nan extremity spurts and really overmuch you really study from it, I deliberation acquisition can’t beryllium taught unless you’re going done it yourself, Right? And I deliberation that nan regular season, nan woes that they face, nan wounded luck that they had, nan different lineup combinations that they were forced to spell to, moreover looking backmost to nan playoff acquisition from Donovan and. And Evan and Jarrett, I deliberation it tin translate, particularly successful a bid wherever they’re going up against a squad pinch a akin velocity acumen. But evidently nobody’s nan Indiana Pacers. But possibly that helps them. They person an knowing of what to expect. They person felt that alternatively than conscionable reasoning astir it.

Chris Fedor: But that was past year’s playoffs you’re talking about. That has thing to do pinch this year’s regular season.

Ethan Sands: Well, I’m saying each of these different things combined, each of these levels of adversity are going to beryllium experienced, that they’ve accumulated, and that tin thief them erstwhile it comes to this postseason. Not needfully saying it’s going to construe precisely aliases immediately, but having that framework of mind, having those reference points, I deliberation that tin beryllium adjuvant for a team, particularly 1 that is not arsenic young aliases immature arsenic it erstwhile was.

Chris Fedor: I conscionable deliberation we’re penning a communicative of nan Cavs winning nan title this year, and we’re talking astir nan really and nan why of it all. 17 and 16 is going to beryllium a footnote. 41 different regular play starting lineups is going to beryllium a footnote. A nonaccomplishment against Portland astatine location is going to beryllium a footnote. The reasons down nan turnaround to maine are James Harden came and gave them confidence. Keon Ellis came and gave them a different benignant of dynamic. The roster changed by getting free of nan nett negatives from this, from this squad that were weighing them down, that were contributing to nan uneven play successful nan first half of nan season. So that’s Why? I look astatine nan regular play arsenic benignant of like, each right, it was what it was and they had to spell done immoderate stuff. But does that mean that they’re a amended squad because of it? Does that mean that erstwhile we constitute this communicative of them winning a championship, if they do triumph a title aliases get to nan finals, that that’s going to beryllium 1 of nan first things that we mention? I don’t cognize astir that.

Ethan Sands: I deliberation this is an lawsuit wherever 2 things tin beryllium true. Right. I deliberation nan emergence of nan waste and acquisition for James Harden is evidently immense successful changing not only who is connected nan squad and wherever teams are capable to flick astatine liabilities, but besides really he influences nan gait of nan crippled and manipulations of defenses and, and unlocking Jared Allen and Evan Mobley. Sure, those are immense things, but I deliberation we would besides person to return a bigger image look, particularly if location is simply a necessity to usage these younger guys. If Jalen Tyson has a bully postseason, he would not person had those opportunities if nan injuries didn’t hap successful nan opening of nan season. If Keone Ellis has a bully postseason, he would not person had nan aforesaid opportunities if Dean we aliases Max Strust was perpetually available. There’s different nuances to each nan conversations. Not to opportunity that you’re wrong, but to opportunity that there’s different lenses to beryllium looked at. But I do want to reason connected my thoughts for nan 82 crippled regular play because I deliberation pulling it each together aft past season, we each had questions, right? We each had stories that we wrote going into nan summer, going into this regular play astir what we thought needed to beryllium changed, what we thought needed to beryllium fixed. And I still person questions astir aggregate of those areas. And I wrote a communicative moreover going backmost to that communicative successful nan mid play giving grades to Kenny Atkinson, his coaching unit and nan Cleveland Cavaliers astir 5 different areas. One is null and void because DeAndre Hunter isn’t connected nan team, but 1 was ne'er get tally disconnected nan level again. We’re going to see, we’re going to person those questions again. And going into this first information playoff bid against nan Toronto Raptors, nan 2nd 1 ended up being nan protect identity. We tin unequivocally opportunity that this is not a defense first team. It can’t be. With this building of nan roster, they are incapable of being a defense first team. And arsenic Chris and Jimmy, you guys person mentioned, they’re going to person to trust connected their discourtesy to beryllium sustainable and propulsion them up alternatively than relying connected their defense to support them successful games aliases which has not been their personality successful aggregate postseasons successful erstwhile years. Another information is breaking nan press. Whether aliases not nan Toronto Raptors utilize this right, Brandon Ingram is not needfully going to do that. But is Scotty Barnes, depending connected who he’s guarding, is RJ Baron? Is Emmanuel Quickley? How nan Cavs are going to beryllium capable to break this down, particularly aft a play wherever they didn’t needfully look arsenic overmuch property defense aliases arsenic overmuch afloat tribunal defense erstwhile it comes to that connected nan violative extremity of nan ball? How does James Harden, Donovan Mitchell get into nan half court? How tired are they from having to beryllium connected nan ball? And past nan last thing, and I mentioned this earlier arsenic I deliberation is going to beryllium nether nan microscope again, particularly pinch nan Scotty Barnes and Evan Mobley matchup. But Evan Mobley being Kenny Atkinson’s summertime task and knowing that he has had a bully 2nd half of nan play and really does that translate? How does that transportation to nan postseason? Does he shrink to nan infinitesimal again? Are you tin of being a number 3 option? Are you tin of being a number 2 action depending connected who’s connected nan level and evidently connected nan protect end? Are you DPOY caliber? Are you going to show america that you tin perpetrate to being a reigning protect subordinate of nan year? Because location person been spurts during this season, during nan regular play wherever we’ve had questions. I still request to find answers to these questions if nan Cavs are going to get further than nan Eastern Conference semifinals. All right, well, we’ll get to spot nan first constituent of position from each of this against nan Toronto Raptors erstwhile nan Cleveland Cavaliers big connected Saturday astatine 1pm we’ll get into those semantics a different time passim nan week, but I cannot hold to spot wherever this Cleveland Cavaliers squad ends up 82 games down, guys, now comes nan existent fun. But pinch each that being said, that’ll wrap up today’s section of nan Wine and Gold Talk podcast. But retrieve to go a Cavs insider and interact pinch Chris, maine and Jimmy by subscribing to Subtext. Sign up for a 14 time free proceedings aliases sojourn cleveland.comcavs and click connected nan bluish barroom astatine nan apical top of nan page. If you don’t for illustration it, that’s fine. All you person to do is matter nan connection stop. It’s easy, but we tin show you that nan group who signed up instrumentality astir because this is nan champion measurement to get insider sum connected nan Cavs from me, Chris and Jimmy. This isn’t conscionable our podcast. It’s your podcast. And nan only measurement to person your sound heard is done subtext. Y’ each beryllium safe. We out.